Energy...

How many hours a day do you spend on your PC? Two? Four? Eight? Twelve? (Okay, I'm not quite that bad, but I do average about 8 hours a day.)

PCs -- especially desktops -- can use a fair amount of electricity, even more so when you start adding on extra devices. Newer PCs tend to be more energy-efficient, but you don't need to buy a new PC just to save a few dollars on electricity. There are a few things you can do that won't cost you more than a few seconds of your time...

1. Let it sleep -- As you've probably heard by now, a screensaver doesn't really save your computer from using any energy when it's not in use. Instead, go into your control panels and select "power options." Here, you can set an amount of time when your monitor or your entire PC will shut down if it's not in use.  Try 10-15 minutes. That should do it.

You can also install a free program called Edison which can help to manage your PC's energy needs even more.

(BTW, if you're going to be away from your desk for more than 15 minutes, it's probably best to just turn your computer off.)

2. Let it breathe -- Look at the location of your computer. Is there enough room around it for air to flow freely? Computers burn hot, and most still need internal fans to cool them off. The more circulation there is around your computer, the less heat it will retain, and the less your fan will need to run. Keep your computer cool and it will keep your energy bill a bit lower.

3. Turn things off -- Too often our scanners, printers and other peripherals stay on for hours and hours when we're not using them. They don't need to be on, so turn them off.

4. Really turn things off -- Of course, many devices keep using electricity even though they are "off." Standby mode might make a device respond faster when it's needed, but it keeps sucking in electricity until that time. If you only use your scanner or printer occassionally, totally unplug them or turn off your surge protector until you need them.

5. Run anti-spyware programs often -- No matter how safe you think you are, evil little programs have a tendency to install themselves on your PC when you're not looking. The worst of the malware bunch can turn your computer into a zombie, using its memory to send out malicious spam emails without your knowledge. A busy piece of malware can keep your PC hopping for hours on end. Put a stop to them by finding and removing the programs.

There you go! Hopefully these simple tips will save you a little bit of energy and help you go a bit greener without having to buy a new computer first.